Electric heating unit



July 1,1941 n M. M. GRE-ER 2,423,184

ELECTRIC HEATING UNIT Filed Jan. 26, 1945 MILLARD M. GREER lNvEN'l-OR Y 7W, Ma/M ATTORNEYS j' Patented July l, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC HEATING UNIT Application January 26, 1945, Serial No. 574,710

My invention relates to electric heating units, and is especially applicable to electric heating units intended to be inserted in a vessel, chamber, pipe, or other container or conduit, into heat transfer relation with matter contained in or passing through the container or conduit, thereby .to heat such matter, and the principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improved electric heating unit, especially for that purpose.

In the drawing accompanying this specification and forming a part of this application I have shown for purposes of illustration one embodiment which my invention may assume, and in this drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of this particular embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is a front plan view of the electric heating unit shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fisure 2,

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

In the drawing I have shown an electric heater H comprising a face plate l0 and an electric heating element carried by the face plate l0 and entering through an opening in the wall W of the conduit or container into heat transfer contact with the matter contained in or passing through the container or conduit.

In the present embodiment the heating element 20 comprises a tubular sheath 2|, a pair of terminals 22 mounted at the two ends 23 of the element 20, a helical resistor 24 extending between the two terminals 22, and refractory material 25 serving both to insulate the resistor 24 and to conduct the heat from the resistor 24 to the sheath 2|. Further the heating element 2U is bent into hairpin form, and over the greater part of its length is pressed into generally triangular cross-section, as shown particularly in Figure 5, especially to compact the refractory 2 Claims. (Cl. B19-38) material 25 and thereby increase its dielectric and heat conducting Values.

Similarly the heating element 2U is assembled with the face plate I0 by the two ends of the heating element 20 passing through and being secured in apertures in the face plate l0, While the entire heating unit H is assembled with the container or conduit by machine screws |2 passing through apertures I3 in the face plate l0 and engaging in complementarily screw threaded openings I4 in the wall W, whereby the face plate I0 is secured to the wall W, prefer- 2 ably with a gasket I5 interposed, to effect a tight seal.

According to my invention the sheath 2|, or in any event that portion of Ithe exterior of the sheath 2| exposed to action of substances within the container or conduit, is of material neutral or in any event resistant to action of such substances. Likewise the face plate Ill is a composite plate comprising a body I6 and an integral facing I1 likewise of material neutral or in any event resistant to action of substances within the container or conduit. And the ends 23 of the heating element 20 are secured in the apertures in the face plate l0, and the joints sealed, by connections I8 also of material neutral or at least highly resistant to action of substances within the container or conduit.

Preferably the facing l1 and the exterior of 4 the exposed portion of the sheath 2|, and even the connections I8, are of the same or very simllar material, and for the usual purposes for which heaters of this type are employed, preferably the material is copper or a copper alloy, and preferably the connections I8 are brazes or Welds.

From the foregoing it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the heater is rendered substantially immune to action by substances within the container or conduit, but without detriment to the operation of the heater, and at least without objectionable increase in the cost of the heater. Therefore it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present embodiment accomplishes at least the principal object of my invention. On the other hand, it will be understood also that various modilcations and changes may be made, without departing from my invention or sacrificing any or all of the advantages thereof.

Accordingly the within disclosure is illustrative only, and I claim as my invention:

l. An electric heater, for heating matter within a container ory conduit, comprising: a closure plate, constructed and arranged to overlie an opening in a wall of the container or conduit, and having on its inner surface a, lamination integral with the body of the plate substantially throughout their common extent and composed of material relatively resistant to the action of the substances within the container or conduit; and a sheathed electric heating element, carried by said plate extending from the inner side of said plate and with its terminals accessible from the outer side of said plate, constructed and arranged to extend through said opening into the container or conduit, having the exterior of its 3 sheath integrated with said lamination, and having at least the eXterior of its sheath interiorl7 of said integration also consisting of material relatively resistant to the action o the substances Within the container or conduit.

2. An electric heater, for heating matter Within a container or conduit, comprising: a closure plate, constructed and arranged to overlie an opening in a Wall of the container or conduit, and having on its inner surface a lamination integral with the body of the plate substantially throughout their common extent and composed of cuprous material relatively resistant to the action of the substances Within the container or conduit; and a sheathed electric heating element, carried by said plate extending from the inner side of said plate and with its terminals accessible from the outer side of said plate, constructed and arranged to extend through said opening into the container or conduit, having the exterior of its sheath integrated with said lamina- 4 tion, and having at least the exterior of its sheath interiorhT of said integration also consisting of cuprous material relatively resistant to the action of the substances within the container n or conduit.

MILLARD M. GREER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the m le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES G. E. Electric Heater Catalog i# GED-650 B,

20 Dec. 1941, pgs. A-5. 

